Awning structure



Feb. 3, 1953 J. N. DUGAN AWNING STRUCTURE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Aug.25, 1949 8 INVENTOR.

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Feb. 3, 1953 J. N. DUGAN AWNING STRUCTURE 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 I Filed Aug.23, 1949 INVENTOR. games IV. Hagan gray/f5 Ally.

Patented Feb. 3, 1 953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,627,309 AWNINGSTRUCTURE James N. Dian, Cincinnati, Ohio Application Augustt3, 1949,Serial No. 111,955

The present invention relates to an improved awning structure forwindows and other wall openings to be protected from the elements ofnature.

An objectof the invention is to provide an awning structure which issimple and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

Another object is to provide an improved awning which is highlyeffective to intercept sunshine and rain while permitting light to pass,and which is easily and quickly adjustable to opera tive and inoperativepositions. v

A further object is toprovide an awning of the character stated, whichcan be formed of sheet material which is more rigid and durable thanwoven fabric, while at the same time retaining the general appearance ofa fabric awning.

Another object is to provide an improved adjustable awning which isdurable, rigid, and wear resistant, the construction being such as toavoid the occurrence of rattle, vibration, and noises resuitingtherefrom when the structure is subjected to wind and rain.

Still other objects of the invention are: to make possible theinstallation of the awning from inside the building; to provide foradjustment without opening the window; to avoid frequentreplacements andrepairs; to provide ample ventilationj and to avoid darkening the roomunnecessarily when the awning is in the operative or lowered position.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means describedherein and illustrated uponthe accompanying drawing, in which: f

Fig. l is a perspective view of the awning struciture of the invention,shown applied to a simpliiied form of window frame, the details of theClaims. 01. 160-202) frame being omitted from the drawing in the"interest of clarity.

Fig, 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken.

on line 22 of Fig. 1, and showing the awning in the operative or loweredposition.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale, showing amodification of the awning structure.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a modification.

Fig. 5 is a perspective exploded view of the Fig. 4 modification.

It has been common practice heretofore, to fabricate awnings and shadesfrom sheet metal, wherefore no claim is made herein to originality inthat broad idea. However, such devices as heretofore constructed werefound objectionable for various reasons, and as a consequence they havenot enjoyed widespread plublic acceptance.

The structural improvements embodied in the device of the presentinvention are effective to provide a most satisfactory and practicaladjustable awning, free of all the objectionable features which have hada limitin effect upon the widespread sale and usage of metallic awnings.

With reference to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 5 in eachinstance designates any common form of window frame having stiles 6, ahead piece i, and a sill member 8. It should be understood that windowframes are variously constructed, and that the drawing depicts only theessential elements of any ordinary window frame, the details of whichare omitted in the interest of clarity of disclosure. Irrespective ofthe frame details, the nature of the counterweighting mechanism, thetrim, the sash guides, etcetera, the awning structure of the presentinvention is generally applicable.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the awning structure is shown as comprising an upperfixed canopy 9, and a lower movable shade member ID adapted for verticalshifting movement intoand from the interior of the canopy. The canopy 9may be of substantially the same size and shape as the shade member, oras disclosed by Fig. 3 it might be reduced as to the extent ofprojection outwardly from the window frame. In either case, the inclinedforward panels 12 and [3 are disposed substantially at a common angle tothe window frame, in order that the movable member might be elevated asfar as possible into the canopy.

If desired, the parts 9 and It may be provided with any suitable form ofdrop or decorative skirt [4, preferably of metal or other durable sheetmaterial, which may lend rigidity and attractiveness of appearance tothe awning structure as a whole. The skirts or drops may be fixed to theforward panels, and to the side panels l5, utilizing any conventionaltype of crimp joint or weld; or if desired, the skirts or drops may beformed integrally with the front and side panels.

At the upper edge, the canopy panel l2 may be turned rearwardly at anangle to provide a flange l6 extending preferably along the full lengthof the panel. This flange may be perforated at intervals to receive lagscrews or other fasteners l1 securing the flange to the under face ofhead piece I. The canopy may be further supported upon the window frameby means of a series of lag screws or the like 18 passing throughflanges I9 which extend inwardly from each of the side panels l5.Flanges 19 preferably are integral parts of the side panels, and. extendat right angles therefrom.

Near the upper end of each flange 19 is provided a bracket 20, which isadapted to support the upper end 2| of a vertical guide member or rod 22upon which the movable shade l may shift. The bracket 20 may be formedfrom the metal of the flange l9, if desired. To accommodate the guide orrod end 2 l, the bracket may be pierced or otherwise for-med to embracethe rod end. The lower end of the rod may be bent, flattened, andpierced to accommodate a suitable fastener, such as a lag screw 23,whereby the rod is fixed to a stile of the window frame at that point.lfwo such guide rods are provided, one at each side of the window frame,to guide the opposite sides of the movable shade member It).

To ensure smooth vertical shifting movement of the shade member I 0 intoand from the canopy,

the shade member is furnished with eyes or sleeves 24 attached theretoin any suitable man- I ner, and in which the guide rods 22 are slidablyreceived. To adjust the shade member to different elevations along therods, a suitable actuating means may be employed. By preference,though'not of necessity, the actuating means is adapted for manipulationfrom the rear of the window frame, that is, without necessarily openingthe window and reaching through the opening. One desirable type ofactuator is in the form of a cord or cable 25 having one end attached tothe movable shade member, as at 26, whereas the opposite end passesthrough a bore 21 provided in the window frame near the top thereof. Thefree end of the cord at the rear of the window frame may carry a ring28, a knot, or other suitable means whereby the cord may be secured atdifferent elevations along the rear of the window frame. For example,the ring 28 may be slipped onto any one of a series of pins or headedstuds 29 projectin from the rear of the frame, thereby to hold themovable shade member at one of a number of elevations beneath thecanopy. In the drawing, the movable shade member is shown at the lowestpossible elevation for maximum protection against the elements ofnature. When the shade member is elevated to the inoperative position,within the canopy, the ring 28 will engage the lowermost anchoragemember or stud 29.

.In accordance with common practice in the awning field, the cord 25 maybe divided at some point intermediate its ends, in order that equalizedlifting force may be applied to opposite sides of the movable shademember, in the interest of smooth operation. As an alternative, tworeachesof cord may be utilized, having a common terminus at the ring 28..This practice is so common in the art as to requireno detailedexplanation.

, Suitable pulleys or other means to reduce wear upon the cord Or cords,may be provided wherever the cords are subject to sharp bending strainsduring manipulation of the shade member ID. Most awnings are thuslyequipped in accordance with everyday practice, as will be readilyunderstood.

Referring to the Fig. 3 modification, there is shown a simplified andinexpensive canopy 33 de-' void of side panels, into which may projectthe movable shade member I 0, in precisely the manner previouslydescribed in the explanation of Figs. 1 and 2. The canopy 33 may besimply formed from a single rectangular sheet of metal, by bending samealong its opposite margins to provide the securing flange 34 and thedrop or skirt 14. The drop or skirt in this case may be omitted. ifdesired. Flange 34 may be pierced at 4 intervals along its length, toaccommodate lag screws or other fasteners 35.

Attention is now directed to the modified structure illustrated by Figs.4 and 5. This structure is more elaborate than those previouslydescribed, and has a number of very desirable features which render itsuperior as to performance, operability, and appearance. As before, thewindow frame parts are designated 6, l and 8, and the entire awninstructure is supported thereby. The awm'ng structure in this instancecomprises an upper fixed canopy 4il, and a plurality of movable shademembers 4| and 42. The lowermost shade member is dimensioned to fitwithin the shade member above it when partly elevated, and furtherelevating of the shade members disposes both within the upper fixedcanopy. The elevatin and lowering movements of the shade members arecontrolled by a cord or cable 43 attached at 44 to a structural memberor bar 45 of the lower shade member, and this control or actuating meansmay be operated in the manner heretofore explained in describing Figs. 1to 3, from a location inside the building, if desired.

The fixed canopy 40 may be formed from a single sheet of material, suchas aluminum or other metal, properly punched and formed to provide afront panel 48, opposed triangular side panels 41, and an inwardlyturned integral flange 48 on each side'panel to overlie the window framestile 6. B'y means of screws or other fasteners 49, the flanges may befixed to the stile. A horizontal flange 5S integral with the front panel46, may be fastened as at 5| to the head 1 of the window frame tofurther support the canopy. The decorative skirt such as M of Fig. 1,has been omitted from Fig. 5 to simplify the drawing, but

such skirts or their equivalent may be applied to the canopy, and alsoto the movable shade members, if desired.

The shade members are adapted for sliding movement vertically upon apair of upright guide members 52, secured one to each stile of thewindow' frame. Only one such uide member is shown upon Fig. 5, but theother is identical and fixed to the remaining stile at the right side ofthe window. A screw or other fastener 53 secures the upperend of theguide member to the stile, whereas a lag bolt 54 or the like secures thelower end thereof. The head of the lag bolt may serve as a stop fordownward movement of the shade members, as will presently appear. Theguide member 52 may overlie the flange 48, if the flange is made wide asshown. It should be understood that both guide members restsubstantially flat against the frame stiles.

Each guide member is of C-shape, or the equivalent thereof, with a back55and a pair of inturned opposed flanges 56 and 57 spaced from thebackand from one another. The guide members are of a lengthapproximating the total height of the awning elements 45, 4| and 42,when dropped tothe operative position. The length is shown slightlyexaggerated in Fig. 5, due'to the effort to clearly disclose thestructure; but in practice, the shades 4! and 42 will not lower quite asfar as shown. In other words, the upper edge of shade 4| should rest atthe lower edge of the canopy, and the upper edge of shade 42 should restat the level of the lower edge of shade 4|, when the shades are loweredto the maximum extent, as in Fig. 4.

The intermediate shade 4|, like the canopy 46, has a front panel,opposed triangular side panels, nd e interr d-fl n e 58. e s e. a l- Thelength of shade member 4| between its onposed side panels, is slightlyless than the length of the canopy so that shade member 4| may beelevated into the open bottom of the canopy, guided by the guide members52. For this purpose, the flanges 58 at opposite ends of the shademember 4| are each secured by means of welds or screws 59, to a slide 89that travels along one flange of the guide member 52. The slide may beof the same cross-sectional shape as the guide member, having a flange6| hooking into the flange 56 of the guide member and slidable thereon.The length of slide 60 approximates the height of the shade members lland 42, so that when the intermediate shade member is lowered to theposition of Fig. 4, the lower end 62 of its slide is stopped by the headof the screw 54 to establish the elevation of the shade member ll. Theright-hand end of the shade member is similarly guided and supported.

The lowermost shade member 42 may be constructed like the shade memberabove it, if desired; however, as herein disclosed the lower shademember is made up in sections and parts including a translucent plasticpanel 63 which excludes rain and wind, while at the same time permittingsome light to pass. The panel 53 may be colored, and may incorporate adegree of opacity to reduce light passage to some extent. If desired,the plastic front panel 63 may be flat rather than corrugated as shown.

, Shade member 42 may consist of a pair of triangular side frames 64connected together at corresponding corners by the bar or brace 45. Thebar may have its opposite ends each secured to a side frame 64 by meansof Welds, rivets, or screws 65 passing through a flange 66 integral withthe frame. The flange in turn is secured to a slide 61 by means ofsuitable fasteners 68,

so that vertical sliding movement of the slide is accompanied bycorresponding movement of the lower shade member. As will be understood,the plastic panel 63 may be secured to the frame 64 and its companionframe at the right end of the shade member, by means of fastenersinserted through the perforations 69 and 10. Similarly, the lower edgeof the panel may be secured to the skirt piece H which spans the forwardcorners 12 of the two side frames.

Part II is preferably formed of a single piece of metal bent to providethe panel support flange 13, a skirt l4, and an inwardly directed ledge15. Ledge 15 may overlie a similar ledge 16 formed as an integral partof frame 64, and the two ledges then are joined at the overlap in anysuitable manner to provide a rigid structure carrying the plastic panel.The dependency indicated at TI is an integral skirt similar to skirt 14.It should be understood that the structural arrangement shown at theleft of Fig. 5 will be duplicated at the right end of the awningstructure.

. Attention is directed to the fact that the slide 61 is of substantialC-shape, like the parts 52 and 69, but its length is reduced toapproximately half the length of slide 60. This permits the short slide6'! to travel along the flange 51 of the guide member 52, to the topportion of the latter when the cord 43 is raised. Moreover, the slide 61moves along the guide member relative to the other slide til, as thelower shade member 42 is pulled upwardly into the adjacent shade member4!. The horizontal length of the lower shade member is made slightlyless than that of the shade member 4 I, to ensure the aforesaid nestingof the shade members. When the lower shade member is elevatedsufficiently to bring it in contact with the shade member next above,both shade members proceed to enter the canopy 40 upon continued raisingof the cord 43. The slides fill and 61 thereupon are caused to travel.in unison along the flanges 56 and 51 of the guide member 52, until theyboth reach a point near the upper end of the guide member.

When the cord is released to dispose the shade members to the operativeor lowered position, both shade members travel downwardly in the nestedrelationship until the lower end of slide 60 strikes the abutment 54,thereby fixing the elevation of shade member 4 I. The 1ower shade membercontinues to descend until the lower end '19 of its slide 61 strikes thesame abutment 54, at which time the shade members will be found to bearthe relationship illustrated upon Fig. 4.

An awning constructed as above described is highly effective inoperation, as well as pleasing of appearance. It is mechanicallysuperior to any known all-metal awning available on the market, and theplastic panel feature is of particular advantage in its function ofdeflecting rain and wind, without undue darkening of the room with whichthe awning is associated. It is possible, of course, to construct thecanopies as well as the adjustable shade members, from translucent sheetmaterial; however, in the preferred form of the invention only thelowermost shade member is translucent, and the remaining elements are ofsheet metal.

As previously stated herein, the canopies and shade members may befabricated from hard sheet material of any suitable type or gauge, therequired rigidity and durability. It is at once evident that each ofthese parts may be punched and formed from a single sheet, if desired,to avoid the use of joints that require connection as a separatemanufacturing operation. Advantageous also to the production method, isthe fact that the canopies and the shade members may be made similar insize and shape, except for a slight reduction in the length of themovable shade members to permit nesting. To

enhance the appearance, the canopies and shade members may be paintedwith alternately colored stripes to simulate awning fabric, or otherforms of decoration may be applied.

With excellent results, awning structures of the character disclosedherein have been formed of sheet plastic, sheet iron, and sheetaluminum, both plain and corrugated. Hammered aluminum sheet has alsobeen used with pleasing effects resulting.

As was pointed out in the explanation of Figs. 1 to 3, the cord oractuating means 413 of Fig. 5 may be divided so as to elevate thelowermost shade member from its opposite ends, rather than from themiddle point 44. That is to say, the ends of a divided cord may exertlifting force at the slides 61 at opposite ends of the lower shademember, to ensure smooth operation, as is usual in the awning art.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes in thestructural details of the device may be made, within the scope of theappended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is: i i

1. An awning structure which comprises in combination, a canopy having aforwardly and downwardly inclined panel providing an open bottom for thecanopy, integral horizontal and vertical rigid flanges on the canopy forrigidly mounting the latter upon the header and the stiles,respectively, of a Window frame, a pair of upright guides fixed relativeto the frame at opposite sides thereof, said guides each including apair of longitudinal spaced flanges, a movable shade member including aforwardly and downwardly inclined panel sloping in substantially thesame direction as the canopy panel, means on the shade member slidinglyengaging one flange of each guide, for sliding vertical movementthereon, to guide the shade member bodily into the open bottom of thecanopy when elevated, a second movable shade member including meansslidably engaging the remaining flanges of the guides, to guide saidsecond shade member vertically toward and from the first mentioned shademember, and means for controlling the elevations of the shade membersrelative to the canopy.

2. An awning structure which comprises in combination, a canopy having aforwardly and downwardly inclined panel providing an open bottom for thecanopy, means for fixing the canopy to the top portion of a windowframe, a

pair of upright guides fixed to the frame at opposite sides thereof,said guides being each of channel formation to include a back abuttingthe window frame, and a pair of inturned opposed flanges spaced from theback and from one another, a shiftable intermediate shade approximatingthe shape of the canopy but reduced in size sufficiently for nestinginto the open bottom of the canopy, a slide at each end of the shade,said slides each consisting of a strip member having a back secured tothe shade, and an inturned flange hooked in sliding engagement with oneinturned flange of one of the upright guides aforesaid, a lower shadeshiftable upwardly into the intermediate shade, a slide at each end ofthe lower shade, each consisting of a strip member having a back securedto the lower shade, and an inturned flange slidingly hooked inengagement with the remaining inturned flange of each upright guide, andmeans for elevating and lowering the shades relative to the canopy.

3. An awning structure which comprises in combination, a canopy having aforwardly and downwardly inclined panel providing an open bottom for thecanopy, means for fixing the ,E

canopy to the top portion of a window frame, a pair of upright guidesfixed to the frame at opposite sides thereof, sald guides being each of0 formation. to include abutting the window frame, and a pair ofinturned O posed flanges spaced from the back and from one another, alower shade and an intermediate shade shiftable along the uprightguides, the intermediate shade approximating the shape of the canopy-butreduced in size sufiiciently for nesting into the open bottom of thecanopy, and the lower shade being likewise shaped and reduced in size tonest within the intermediate shade, a pair of slides on each shadenearthe opposite ends thereof, said slides each consisting of a verticalstrip member having a hook-shaped flange formed along the lengththereof, the hookshaped flanges of the strip members on the lower shadebeing slidingly engaged with innermost flanges of the frame-supportedupright guides, and the hook-shaped flanges of the strip members ontheintermediate shade being slidingly engaged with the outermost flanges ofsaid upright guides, and means for elevating and lowering the shadesrelative to the canopy.

4. An awning structure which comprises in combination, a canopy having aforwardly and downwardly inclined panel providing an open bottom for thecanopy, means for fixing the canopy to the top portion of a windowframe, a pair of upright guides fixed to the frame at opposite sidesthereof, said guides being each of 0 formation to include a backabutting the window frame, and a pair of inturned opposed flanges spacedfrom the back and from one another, a lower shade and an intermediateshade shiftable along the upright guides, the intermediate shadeapproximating the shape of the canopy but reduced insize sufficientlyfor nesting into the open bottom of the canopy, and the lower shadebeing likewise shaped and reduced in size to nest within theintermediate shade, a pair of slides on each shade near the oppositeends thereof, said slides each consisting of a vertical strip memberhaving a hook-shaped flange formed along the length thereof, thehook-shaped flanges of the strip members on the lower shade beingslidingly engaged with innermost flanges of the framesupported uprightguides, and the hook-shaped flanges of the strip members on theintermediate shade being slidingly engaged with the outermost flanges ofsaid upright guides, the length of the slides on the intermediate shadebeing about twice as long as the slides on the lower shade and dependingto a position behind the lower shade, a stop on each upright guideestablishing the lower limit of shifting movement of the slides of bothshades, and means for elevating and lowering the shades relative to thecanopy.

5. An awning structure which comprises in combination, a canopy having aforwardly and downwardly inclined panel providing an open bottom for thecanopy, means for fixing the canopy to the top portion of a windowframe, a pair of upright guides fixed to the frame at opposite sidesthereof, said guides being each of channel formation to include a backabutting the window frame, and a pair of inturned opposed flanges spacedfrom the back and from one another, a shiftab-le intermediate shadeapproximating the shape of the canopy but reduced in size sufficientlyfor nesting into the open bottom of the canopy, a slide at each end ofthe shade including an inturned flange hooked in sliding engagement withone inturned flange of one of the upright guides aforesaid, a lowershade shiftable upwardly into the intermediate shade, a slide at eachend of the lower shade including an inturned flange slidingly hooked inengagement with the remaining opposed inturned flange'of n uprightguide, and means for elevating and lowering the shades relative to thecanopy.

JAMES N. DUGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fil ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Graham June 12, 1945

